Course Description:
The AP course in Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of country settings. The course aims to illustrate the rich diversity of political life, to show available institutional alternatives, to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes, and to communicate to students the importance of global political and economic changes.
Comparison assists both in identifying problems and in analyzing policymaking. Additionally the course covers the major concepts that are used to organize and interpret specific countries and their governments.
Six countries form the core of the AP Comparative Government and Politics course: China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. By using these six countries, the course can move the discussion of concepts from abstract definition to concrete example, noting that not all concepts will be equally useful in all country settings.
Additionally, students will develop a detailed understanding of the government of the United States through the process of comparison to various other government systems.
** This course may be taken either to fulfill the requirement of American Government or as an elective after students have already completed the American Government requirement.
